ATTORNEY GENERAL VAN HOLLEN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ETHICS PROPOSAL

MADISON - Yesterday, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and Ethics approved Special Session Assembly Bill 1, the legislature's major ethics reform package, by a vote of 8-1.  The committee also adopted an amendment making several improvements to the bill, including language to clarify that the bill does not affect the current authority of the Attorney General.

"I am pleased that the proposal to revise Wisconsin's ethics, elections, lobbying, and campaign finance laws has cleared its first hurdle," Van Hollen said.   "I am especially pleased that legislative leaders worked with me to amend the bill to ensure that the investigative powers of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice are not diminished by the amended legislation.  Moreover, under the amended proposal, local district attorneys as well as other departments of government will be able to seek the Department of Justice's assistance in enforcing these important laws."